American Refugees

We are shocked at the images and voices and stories from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The devastation caused by Katrina and the breeching of the levees that separate a city from a lake is beyond imagining. An entire city flooded, burning, evacuated, overrun by criminals, abandoned by police, infiltrated by alligators and snakes, reeling in shock and horror. In America.

Some want to point a finger of blame. Now is not the time.

When this is over, there will be time to fire Chertoff and Brown and a dozen other idiots. But not today.

These poor people in New Orleans and in the other affected areas along the Gulf have been waiting and suffering, and dying. They cannot hope to hold out much longer if substantial aid is not delivered immediately.

When these American refugees have been rescued and cared for, we will need an investigation.

We should not look at this event through the prism of natural disasters but from the perspective of readiness and responsiveness of emergency services, logistics, security and public health systems to major emergencies. Whether the next challenge is an earthquake or hurricane or terrorist attack, all of these systems (that have failed so miserably in New Orleans) must be very much more effective.

This disaster has shown that we are not at all ready -- that is the justification for the investigation that must come later, after we have provided water and food and medical attention and security and decent shelter and counseling to those who have survived the ordeal of this past week.

But first let us attend to their needs. This must be the only priority for the next few days. Till that is accomplished, I don't want to hear about George Bush this or Iraq that.

It is obscene to play politics while dead babies are floating in the streets and 10 year old girls are being raped in the only shelter available to them, while people are dying needlessly here in America.

Save the finger of blame for later,when the urgent and important task has been completed.

Neil

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